Just a little Snape musing...

[valis2]

rickfan37 did her own build-a-snape here and mentioned this really excellent point:

Here’s the Urbane!Snape myth again. I don’t know, and we’re given no clue in canon. I simply don’t believe he’s a closet opera buff and spends his spare time humming along to great arias, or that he can quote Dante or Shakespeare at will.

It really made me think of something new. I've always been a bit apprehensive about fics where Snape quotes Byron and listens to Bach.

I think what really is happening is that giving Snape these "pretentious" hobbies is a way for an inexperienced writer to "shorthand" their characterization of him, because in just a sentence of quoting/playing classical music, they set him up (in their minds) as a certain sort of character, aloof, mysterious, educated, etc. It's a short-cut.

The thing is, the sort of character they're trying to develop is not canon. Snape is a pure-blood, and would most likely know very little, if anything, about the Muggle world (his matchbox comment notwithstanding). And I'm certain that most pure-bloods wouldn't want to involve themselves in any sort of Muggle-world scrutiny.

So authors who attempt this short-cut are really doing canon a disservice, when what they really need to do is discover what would make him an aloof, mysterious, and educated character in Rowling's world.

Just my little musing for the moment.

Comments

[arclevel.livejournal.com]

As others have said, I don't mind my Snape having an appreciation for some aspect of Muggle culture, within reason. I can genuinely see the man enjoying poetry, for instance, as he does seem to like words (even though he has not, in fact, swallowed the thesaurus). Also, poetry seems like it would generally translate well to a wizard as it's frequently (not always) centered on universal themes and doesn't require extensive knowledge of the society it's set in, unlike many novels. I could potentially see him getting into philosophy after the fall of Voldemort, if only trying to figure out where things went so wrong. In general, I think this appreciation would be just that, not broad expertise, and I think it needs to be limited to books, which are wonderful companions for a solitary evening. And we all know that Snape has many a solitary evening (at least before Voldemort's return, and once he's done with his grading).

The biggest problem with music-connoisseur!Snape is that he's got no way to *listen* to music. Somehow I just doubt he's got a CD player, or even a phonograph, in his quarters in the dungeon (movie!Lupin's notwithstanding). I also balk at fics where he has perfect idea of how to dress to blend into the Muggle world, and of course wears something so flattering that every nearby jaw drops. If he ever goes there (and he may have legitimate reason), either he dresses badly or someone else gives him something to wear. Imagine just what Dumbledore would put him in. ;-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I could potentially see him getting into philosophy after the fall of Voldemort, if only trying to figure out where things went so wrong.

I don't know if I'd agree with this. I have a pretty specific view of canon!Snape and it does not involve philosophy...he is rather underdeveloped in certain areas, especially if you consider how he holds a grudge for so long. I view him as being limited in some ways. But that's just my opinion.

As far as books go...I can see him voraciously reading anything having to do with potions...or the Dark Arts...or Defense...I'm not certain that he views books with the nostalgic view that we do. I think he views them as a tool.

Of course, this is all speculation.

[arclevel.livejournal.com]

Not all philosophy is genteel or pleasant, remember. Some of it's really quite nasty and vicious (note that I'm no expert myself, but I've read bits and pieces of various philosophers). Besides, reading philosophy doesn't mean that you agree with the philosopher in question, or that you make any attempt to actually *live* that way. I don't know that Snape would actually read much philosophy, but it's the sort of thing that I wouldn't mind seeing him do in fanfics. I could probably see him agreeing with Hobbes, should he happen to come across him, or perhaps Nietzsche.

You'd think that spending your whole life studying the Dark Arts and Potions, eventually working as a Potions Master, and then going home and studying potions and the dark arts would be very dull. Even the most work-obsessed scientists I know (and we're generally a work-obsessed lot) have other interests. I don't like my Snape to be a stunning connoisseur, but I want him at least a *little* well-rounded. Books as objects of nostalgia, definitely not, unless there's one or two with particular associations. No one in the wizarding world does, IMO, and see my other comment for my thoughts on the general lack of wizarding fiction. Nonetheless, I can see Snape reading fiction more than say, any of the Weasleys (or even Hermione, really). Not as much so as Luna, or perhaps Harry. (And I've always found it deeply odd that Harry apparently never read any of those books that Dudley never touched, seeing as he could easily have snuck a few of them into his cupboard and had something to *do* while he was locked in, but that's an entirely different issue.) Fiction tends to be a good companion for the lonely, for one thing, and I think Snape is *definitely* lonely, no matter that he wouldn't admit it under the combined pressures of torture, legilimency, and Veritaserum.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm just saying that I think he's a limited person, and that I highly doubt he would attempt to seek something higher via the pursuit of philosophy. That's just my opinion, and I think we'll have to agree to disagree here.

Even the most work-obsessed scientists I know (and we're generally a work-obsessed lot) have other interests.

Very true. But what I'm saying is that we know Muggle pursuits. I'm not saying Snape doesn't have other pursuits; for all I know, he might be pulling the fur off puffskeins in his spare time. I just think it might be nice for people to come up with interesting wizarding variations. Not chess, Wizard chess. Not card games, Exploding Snap.

and I think Snape is *definitely* lonely, no matter that he wouldn't admit it under the combined pressures of torture, legilimency, and Veritaserum.

Ha!! Oh so true, oh so very, very true. *grins*

[arclevel.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed that your response to that was so coherent; when I reread it, I confused myself. I think part of the problem is that I'm kind of discussing two different points at once; one is what I think he "actually" does or would do, the other is what I'm okay with in fanfics. The latter is a much broader category. I think I'm more tolerant of OOC-ness than a lot of people, as long as it's relatively subtle and doesn't violate some deeply held belief about the character (which, of course, the author can't reasonably be expected to guess). I agree that it would be very nice to see more distinctly *wizarding* pursuits, or even wizarding variations on Muggle pursuits, but I think that's a problem across the fandom, not just for Snape. As much as we love all the tidbits about life in the wizarding world, they tend not to get incorporated into fics that much.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm agreeing with you here...I don't mind a little OOC if it's well written and well explained.

I would love to see more wizarding hobbies, but being that we are viewing nearly the entire series through Harry's eyes, it will show itself slowly...

As much as we love all the tidbits about life in the wizarding world, they tend not to get incorporated into fics that much.

You know, that drives me crazy. It's a wizarding world...there should be more fun little toys in it. Part of the fun of Rowling's universe is the magic of it! Yes, the characters are what keeps me here, but the icing on the cake is the magic.

I love it when I see a fic throw in a subtle little touch. I think it's really important for HP fanfic writers to remember that it is a magical universe and write accordingly. There have to be tiny little things that help them get through their day quicker.

In my ginormous WiP the Order has to vote on something. Instead of sitting there and thinking, ballots, Muggle methods, etc., I tried to think of how Wizards would vote.

Little tiny touches...even if the writer is just remembering Rowling's touches and re-using them!...are very impressive.